Moving toy



A. BARTON MOVING TOY Nov. 30, 1937.

Filed Jan. 18, 1937 Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED Orr-ICE,Av

18 Claims.

VThe invention relates to toys, and to a method for imparting movement thereto, as described in my abandoned application, Serial No. 95,963, med August 14, 1936.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy comprising the simulation of two men or other simulations which are connected and adapted to descend an incline.

A further object aims at providing a pair of toy representations connected by a longitudinal member and adapted to be placed on an incline, there being means for shifting the center of gravity so that the topmost toy is swung around the lower toy and comes to rest on the incline. Another object aimsat providing a pair of toys connected by a tube and placed on an incline, there being means in the tube for shifting the center of gravity, causing one toy to be swung around the other and repeating such oscilla.- tion until the toys have descent to the lower end of the incline.

It is also an object of the invention to provide certainfeatures of construction and arrangement tending to enhance the utility and efciency of a device ofthe character described.

With these and other equally important objects in view, which will become apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in. the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a side View of the toy constructed in accordance with my invention and placed in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the toy.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a toy element.

Referring to the several views in the drawing, I0 designates an incline supported at one end on a table, floor or other base and at the other end by a supporting block Ii secured to the incline in any appropriate or preferred manner or formed integral therewith. The toy proper comprises a pair of elements I2 and I2a which in the present instance are simulations of a human being although any object or animal may be simulated if so desired.

The element I2 comprises la body portionV l2, legs I4, connected to 'runners l5. To the body portion is secured a head i5 and integral arms i?.

The particular construction of the element I2 is merely shown and describedV by way of example 55 and not by way of limitation. Any other construction or arrangement of parts is contemplated within the purview of the invention.

A pair of tubular members I8 and I 8a arearranged at cach side of the toy elements I2 and are connected thereto by a coil i9 wound around i5.: the tube and secured at one end to an offset Ila of the arm il of the toy element I2.

As shown the end of the coil is threaded into an aperture 29 in the arm portion I'Ia through a slot 2l and extends through the other 'aper- 1Q ture 2E of the juxtaposed arm portion and thence continues to form a coil ISa around the other tube. Thus it will be seen that the toy elements may beA rotated on the wire 22 connecting the coils I9 and iSa. In the tubes I9 and I9a, is provided a shiftable weight of heavy substance, such as, for instance, mercury, which flows at a measured rate of speed when one end'of its tubes inclincs downwardly; the inner surface of the tubes is treated with paran-ine or the like to prevent the absorption of the mercury by the tubes.

The provision of the liquid element is merely indicated as one form of solving the problem to cause at a predetermined time or after areasonable delay an accumulation of weight at the depending end of the tube when downwardly in clined so as to overcome the weight of the remainder of the tube and associated element.

In use the toy is placed on the incline as indicated in Fig. l. Thereupon the liquid 23 flows 30 gradually to the lower end where its weight overcomes the weight of the upper end of the tube and upper toy element I'a causing oscillation of the tubes and toy element l2a in counter-clockwise direction about the lower toy element I2 or 35 its transverse coil wire 22 as fulcrum until the .moving element I2 is arrested by the incline and now is in lower position and the formerly lower end of the tubes become the upper end. The liquid 23 again flows to the lower end and causes 40 oscillation of the toy element I2 about thetoy element 22a as fulcrum.

This cycle of operations is repeated until the toy has reached the lowermost position on the incline whereupon the toy comes to rest as al- 45 ready stated instead of a liquid 23 flowing at a slow rate of speed at other meansfsuch as a bale or other element may be used to cause shifting ofthe center of gravity so as to produce in connection with the incline oscillation of the tubes about the lower toy element.

` The drawing shows one form of embodiment of the invention by way of example. Numerous changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. I,

therefore, do not limit myself to the details of construction, coniiguration of elements, nor arrangement of parts, but claim my invention as broadly as the state of the art permits.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of longitudinal members provided with spaced vertical supports constituting gures, a lively Weight Within said members, and means for shifting the center of gravity of said members to cause oscillation of said members around one of said supports.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of longitudinal members spaced vertical supports constituting figures and hingedly connected to said members, a lively Weight Within said members, and means for shifting the center of gravity of said members to cause oscillation of said members around one of said supports.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of longitudinal members, spaced vertical supports constituting gures and hingedly connected to said members, a lively Weight Within said members, and means for automatically shifting the center of gravity of said members to cause oscillation of said members around one of said supports.

4. A device of the character described comprising a pair of longitudinal members provided Withl spaced vertical supports constituting gures, and hingedly connected to said members, a lively Weight within said members and means for continuously shifting the center of gravity of said members to cause oscillation of said members around one of said supports as a fulcrum carrying the other support along and subsequently causing oscillation about said other support.

5. A device of the character described comprising a pair of longitudinal members provided With spaced vertical supports constituting gures, and articulated to said members, a lively Weight within said members and means for intermittently shifting the center of gravity of said members to cause intermittent oscillation of said members alternately about one and the other of said supports to provide locomotion.

6, A device of the character described comprising a pair of longitudinal members provided With spaced'vertical supports articulated to said members constituting figures, a lively Weight Within said members, and means for continuously shiftingthe center of gravity of said members to cause intermittent oscillation of said members successively about one and the other of said supports to produce progressive movement of the device.

'7 A device of the character described, including a pair of longitudinal members, spaced supports articulated to said members said supports constituting iigures, a lively Weight in said members, and an incline for said supports whereby the center of gravity of said members shifts to cause oscillation of said members around one of said supports.

8. A device of the character described, including a longitudinal member provided With spaced vertical supports constituting gures, a mercury Weight in said member, and means for shifting the center of gravity of said members to cause oscillation of said members around one of said supports.

9. A device of the character described, including a longitudinal member, spaced supports articulated to said member said supports constituting gures, a mercury Weight in said member, and means for automatically shifting the center of gravity of said member to cause oscillation of said member alternately about said supports as fulcrums.

10. A device of the character described, including a longitudinal member, spaced supports articulated to said member said supports confstituting iigures, a mercury Weight in said member, and means for continuously shifting the center of gravity of said member to cause its oscillation alternately about said supports.

11. A device of the character described, including a longitudinal member, spaced supports articulated to said member and constituting ngures, a mobile weight in said member, and means for intermittently shifting the center of gravity of said member to cause its intermittent oscillation alternately about one and the other of said supports to produce locomotion.

12. A device of the character described, including a longitudinal member, spaced supports articulated to said member and constituting figures, a mobile Weight in said member, and means for continuously shifting the center of gravity o said member to cause intermittent oscillation of said member successively about one and the other of said supports to produce progressive movement of the device.

13. A device of the character described, including a tube` provided with spaced vertical supports, constituting figures, a mobile Weight in said tube and means for shifting the center of gravity to cause oscillation of said tube around one of said supports.

14. A device of the character described, including a tube provided With spaced vertical supports constituting figures, a mobile Weight in said tube and means for continuously sluiting the center of gravity to cause intermittent oscillation alternately about one and the other of said supports to produce locomotion.

15. A device of the character described, including a tube provided with spaced supports constituting iigures, a mobile Weight in said tube, and an incline for said supports, to thereby shift the center of gravity and cause oscillation of said tube around one of said supports.

16. A device of the character described, including a tube provided with spaced supports constituting figures, a mobile weight in said tube, and an incline for said supports, to thereby shift the center of gravity of said tube and cause progressive descent of the device.

17. The method of imparting movement to a tubular member provided with articulated supports, constituting figures including the steps of providing said member with a lively Weight, and placing the member and supports on an incline, to thereby shift the center of gravity of said member and cause oscillation about one of the sup-ports.

18. The method of imparting movement to a tubular member provided with articulated supports, constituting gures including the steps of providing said member with a lively Weight, and placing the member and supports on an incline to thereby shift the center of gravity of said member and cause continuous oscillation alternately about said supports and progressive descent.

BARTON. 

